Electric lock



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Av N S M 7 W 5 e 0 I, 1 r y W m. .ll, A. W m W m c fi wuflfl Y v w z V V. A. PARSLEY ELECTRIC LOCK 7 July 23, 1957 United States Patent ELECTRIC LOCK Vernon A. Parsley, Tulsa, Okla.

Application April 29, 1955, Serial No. 504,805

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-201) This invention relates to electric locks. While this lock may be used in a wide range of applications, it 1s ideally suited for use on overhead garage doors.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved electric lock.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electric door lock incorporating an efiective selflocking toggle mechanism.

According to an improved aspect of this invention there is provided a rotatable locking member including a latch receiving notch and a locking detent, a toggle locking means oriented to normally engage the locking detent and prevent rotation of the locking member, and a solenoid coupled to the toggle locking means whereby said locking member can rotate and release a latch in said notch when the solenoid is energized.

Further objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the invention, will appear, as the description progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, showing, solely, by way of example, and in no way, in a limiting sense, one form which the invention can assume.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a garage doorway and door provided with an improved electric lock constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken through one side portion of the garage of Figure 1 at a plane above the electric lock shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on line 33 of Figure 2, showing the electric lock in side elevation.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross sectional view taken through the lower portion of the structure shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, and illustrating the lock in a released position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a garage 6, with an overhead door 7, supported on a pivot 8, and counterweighted by a spring 9. The door, when it opens, swings up and back, as shown by the dashed line 7'.

Carried by the garage 6, and above the top edge of door 7, is a solenoid S, having a core 10, pivoted to a link 11 which in turn is pivoted, at 12, to a toggle locking means having an arm 13, and a lock arm 14, with a lock notch 15 in the end thereof, and a pointed portion 15' which makes for quick action and short stroke of the lock arm. Arm 13 is pivoted between two support plates 16 and 17 fixed to the garage 6, and the break-down joint of the toggle, at 12, lies below the center line of the two arms 13 and 14, when locked and fits into notches 18, in these plates, when the toggle is straight, as in Figure 3. Shoulders on arms 13 and 14, as at 19, prevent the joint from dropping below the straight line position of Figure 3.

Pivoted between plates 16 and 17, on pivot 20, is a rotatable locking member 21, in the form of a disc with an open-ended latch-receiving slot 22, in which can engage the transverse pin element of a latch 23, fixed to the top of the door, as at 24.

Also, in member 21, is a locking detent 25, diametrically opposite slot 22, for receiving the lock notch 15 of arm 14, when the toggle is lowered, as in Figure 3, so as to lock member 21 against counterclockwise rotation.

The solenoid 5 can be energized through a circuit including, a switch 26, and a source of potential, as battery 27.

The operation of the device should now be clear.

With solenoid S de-energized, the lock arm 14 engages the detent 25 to prevent rotation of member 21 and hence the pin element of latch 23 cannot be moved out of slot 22, and door 7 cannot be opened. This condition is shown in Figure 3.

Upon energizing the solenoid, arm 14 is moved out of detent 25, to permit rotation of 21 counterclockwise, and release latch 23 on the door, so that the door can be swung open, as indicated in Figure 5.

When the door 7 is swung shut, the parts are restored to the positions shown in Figure 3.

Also, the door can be opened from different places, by means of buttons or keys. It can also be operated by placing a hose across the driveway to control an air operated switch, so, with the spring 9 sufiiciently tensioned, the door will open automatically. Also, in case of power shortage, the locking means can be operated by hand, by means of a cable suitably connected.

The above specific description, of one form which the invention can assume, has been given solely by way of example, and is not intended, in any way, in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, it is now claimed:

1. A locking device comprising, in combination, a rotatable locking disc formed with an open-ended latchreceiving slot and a locking detent located diametrically opposite said slot, a transverse locking pin element connected to a lockable member, a toggle locking means oriented to normally engage the locking detent and prevent rotation of the locking disc, and a solenoid coupled to said toggle locking means, whereby the locking disc can rotate and release the pin element when in the slot, only when the solenoid is energized.

2. A locking device comprising, in combination, a rotatable locking disc formed with an open-ended latchreceiving slot and a locking detent located diametrically opposite said slot, a transverse locking pin element connected to a lockable member, a toggle locking means oriented to normally engage the locking detent and prevent rotation of the locking disc, and a solenoid coupled to said toggle locking means, whereby the locking member can rotate and release the pin element when in the slot, only when the solenoid is energized, the toggle locking means including, two arms pivoted together, and shoulders on the pivoted ends of the arms and contacting, when the toggle is closed to prevent the toggle from dropping below a straight line through the two arms, one arm having a notch to engage the locking detent, and a pointed end on the said one arm and beyond the notch, and resting on the periphery of the locking disc when the notch engages the detent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,113 Staehle May 30, 1905 1,283,669 Chrisman et a1. Nov. 5, 1918 2,166,898 Wolf July 18, 1939 2,231,075 Lakin Feb. 11, 1941 2,601,983 Schoelkopf July 1, 1952 

